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Tip Sheets
All Tip Sheets
All Tip Sheets are available in English and Spanish (español). Most Tip Sheets are available in Polish (Polski). Selected Tip Sheets are available in Korean (한국어), Chinese (中文 (中国), Arabic (العربية), Russian (Русский) and French (Français). IEL Tip Sheets are easy-to-read, one-page resources on a variety of topics of interest to parents and teachers of young children. You can also search Tip Sheets by Topic.
Graphic Tip Sheets
Graphic Tip Sheets are meant for busy families. Put them on your refrigerator, corkboards, or other common household areas as quick reminders of important activities you can enjoy with your family.
Tip Sheets by Keyword
Tip Sheets by Series
PDF Collections
Order Tip Sheets
Videos and Podcasts
Parenting Videos
These videos show some family activities that help infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children learn about the world. For each video we provide some background information, a transcript, and a list of resources about the topic.
Early Learning Moments Videos
The Illinois Early Learning Moments have been developed to assist infant/toddler care providers in implementing the strategies for interaction outlined in the Illinois Early Learning Guidelines for Children Birth to Age Three (IELGs). Each Early Learning Moment includes a video, information about the area being covered, suggestions for creating an environment to support children’s development, and a series of questions to help you assess whether your everyday environment and interactions support the development of the children under your care.
Guidelines Videos
These videos were filmed in various child care settings. For each video, we provide some brief background information, a transcript, and a description of strategies teachers or caregivers used to help children meet standards in the Illinois Early Learning Guidelines for Children Birth to Age 3. Having promised parents and the child care center that the children’s identities would remain anonymous, IEL has dubbed out any mentions of the children’s names in these videos. In the transcript and the introduction to the videos, we have inserted pseudonyms for the children.
Benchmark Videos
These videos were filmed in a variety of settings, including programs at public universities, community colleges, and private homes. For each video, we provide background information, a transcript, and a description of how various 2013 Illinois Early Learning and Development benchmarks are met.
Podcasts
Podcasts are a great way to explore early childhood education topics on the go. The Illinois Early Learning Project will continue to add new audio content that can be streamed or downloaded to your device.
Standards & Guidelines
Illinois Early Learning Guidelines for Children Birth to Age 3
IELG Resources
2013 Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards
IELDS Resources
Illinois Learning Standards for Kindergarten
Kindergarten Standards Resources and KIDS Assessment
Blogs
Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
Increasingly, children with developmental delays or disabilities attend child care or preschool programs where teachers may have limited information about how to include a child with special needs. Parents who have a child with special needs also may want to know more about adapting family activities to more fully include the child. View more blogs.
Culturally Responsive Practices
An increasing population of children entering child care or preschool who speak a home language other than English. This blog is intended to help parents and teachers support these children as they learn English and their home languages. View more blogs.
Learning and Growing Together
Children grow and develop rapidly in the first five years of life. Every day routines and playtimes provide rich opportunities for young children to learn. This blog explores practical and enjoyable ways that caregivers, families, and teachers can help children learn as they play and explore their world. View more blogs.
Perspectives on the Project Approach
View blogs by Lilian Katz, Sallee Beneke, or practicing early childhood directors. View more IEL blogs.
Learn More
Learning at Home Activities
Questions and Answers (Q&A)
The IEL staff has prepared a series of questions (and their answers!) on topics in early learning.
Resource Lists
These Resource Lists are related to popular topics and contain a wealth of information on early care and education.
Tool Kits
Our tool kits are designed to assist teachers and caregivers in their work with young children. The resources have been created as starting points for developing materials that address the individual needs of the children and families in their programs.
COVID-19 Resources
Find resources, strategies, and activities to keep young children learning at home and at school during the COVID-19 situation.
Faculty Resources
Search IEL Resources
Project Approach
Project Examples
Illinois Educators are invited to submit simple documentation of project work from their classrooms. IEL staff will help edit and publish your project! By sharing documentation of their experiences implementing the Project Approach, Illinois teachers can help each other learn new strategies and ideas for implementation.
Project Approach Tip Sheets
Blog: Perspectives on the Project Approach
View the most recent blog postings. View blogs by Lilian Katz, Sallee Beneke, or practicing early childhood directors.
Project Approach Resources
The Legacy of Lilian Katz
Infants and Toddlers (Birth To Age 3)
Self-Regulation and Executive Function
Resource Lists
Biting
Resource Lists
Collaborating with Interpreters and Families
All Tip Sheets
Working with Interpreters
Resource Lists
Parenting in the Early Years
Resource Lists
Sleep and Young Children
Resource Lists
Vision Development
Resource Lists
How the Game “Red Light! Green Light!” Can Help Us Talk to Children About Food Allergies
Learning and Growing Together
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Blogs
Community Resources for Illinois Families
Resource Lists
After “Something Happened”: Responding to Trauma in Young Children
Learning and Growing Together
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Blogs
Toilet Learning
Resource Lists
Motor Development for Infants and Toddlers
Resource Lists
Childhood Stress and Trauma
Resource Lists
Communication and Oral Language Development in Infants and Toddlers
Resource Lists
Something Happened: Understanding Extreme Stress and Trauma in Young Children
Learning and Growing Together
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Blogs
Learning Literacy Through Songs and Music
Resource Lists
Developmental Screenings for Young Children: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know
Podcasts
Big Tech and Small Children
Tool Kits
Quality in Early Childhood Education
Questions and Answers (Q&A)
Too Much Tech: Screen Time and Families
Podcasts
Building Relationships with Refugee Caregivers During Home Visits
Blogs
,
Culturally Responsive Practices
Exploring Project Work Through the Eyes of Toddlers and Twos
Perspectives on the Project Approach
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Blogs
Making and Keeping Friends for Young Children with and without Disabilities
Podcasts
Talking to Your Child’s Teacher
All Tip Sheets
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Graphic Tip Sheets
The Project Approach: Resources for Teachers
Project Approach Resources
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Resource Lists
Dental Health for Babies and Young Children
All Tip Sheets
Curriculum Modifications
Tool Kits
Teaching and Learning About Native Americans
Resource Lists
Approaches to Early Childhood Education
Questions and Answers (Q&A)
Nutrition for Young Children
Resource Lists
Supporting Children with Limited Verbal Skills
All Tip Sheets
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Graphic Tip Sheets
Supporting Children Who Experience Community Violence
Resource Lists
Collaborative Care: Teaming to Support Infants and Toddlers With Disabilities
Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
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Blogs
National Organizations
Resource Lists
Refugee Families
Resource Lists
Child Development
Tool Kits
What Is Autism?
Questions and Answers (Q&A)
What Is an IEP?
All Tip Sheets
What Is Assessment?
All Tip Sheets
LGBTQ+ for Educators
Resource Lists
Mindfulness for Educators
Resource Lists
Developmentally Appropriate Practice for Educators
Resource Lists
Supporting Young Children’s Friendships
Tool Kits
Household Safety: Medications
Resource Lists
Helping Young Children Get Ready to Read
Tool Kits
Developmentally Appropriate Practice
Tool Kits
Families, Social-Emotional Learning, and the Pandemic
Podcasts
Play
Tool Kits
Play Along: Following Your Child’s Interests at Home
Learning and Growing Together
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Blogs
Early Intervention: Resources for Families, Childcare, and Early Childhood Teachers
Tool Kits
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